Columbus Grove’s Luke Ellerbrock competes in the 1,600 during Saturday’s Northwest Conference Championships at Delphos Jefferson. See more high school sports photos at LimaScores.com.
DELPHOS – The dominance continues for Columbus Grove.
When it comes to winning the Northwest Conference team title in track and field, the Columbus Grove program is at the top of the list.
Saturday, Columbus Grove won the boys and girls team titles, as the second and final day of the NWC Championships concluded at Delphos Jefferson High School.
The Columbus Grove boys program notched its fifth consecutive NWC team title Saturday. Columbus Grove ended the two-day meet with 144 points, while runner-up Bluffton recorded 118 points. Allen East (80), Lincolnview (79) and Leipsic (76) rounded out the top five squads in the nine-team field.
On the girls side, Columbus Grove notched its fourth NWC title of the past five years.
The Columbus Grove girls scored 152 points, while Bluffton was a distant second with 116 points. Lincolnview (92.5), Spencerville (77) and Crestview (73) rounded out the top five teams.
Longtime Columbus Grove boys head coach Chris Grothaus was pleased at how his athletes performed this week. He also is hopeful that he can get his top hurdler, Zach Reynolds, back into action. Reynolds is battling an injury and did not compete at the NWC Championships. Reynolds was a Division III state qualifier in the 300 hurdles last season as a sophomore.
“I think the kids came out today, pretty focused. We ran about what we thought,” Grothaus said. “Obviously, we have to get better next week (district tournament). We’re going to try to get Zach (Reynolds) back next week. We’re going to see where he is at. He ran a little bit in practice, yesterday. So, we’re hoping he can come back. We’re not sure what all we will run him in, but I’m sure he will be a difference maker for sure if he is healthy.”
The Columbus Grove boys team came out of Thursday’s field events and 3,200-meter relay with a 27-point lead over Bluffton, 64-37.
In Thursday’s shot put, Columbus Grove went 1-2. Tadd Koch won the event for the Bulldogs with a mark of 52 feet. Teammate AJ Schafer finished second with a mark of 50-6.5.
In the discus, Koch, who has a personal best of 189-6, unfortunately fouled three times Thursday and did not record a mark. However, teammate Lawson Maag won the discus with a toss of 173-6.
At last year’s Division III state meet, Koch placed third in the discus and Maag was 10th.
In Thursday’s pole vault, Columbus Grove’s Trevon Baxter and Noah Goecke went 1-2, respectively. Baxter’s winning height was 13-0. Goecke’s best vault was 12-6.
In Thursday’s high jump, Antonio Gray placed second for Columbus Grove (5-10).
Despite having a good lead after the first day, Grothaus was not taking anything for granted.
“We usually come out of that first day with a little bit of a cushion,” Grothaus said. “But you have to understand – this conference is good. Bluffton is one of the premier track programs around. They’re going to make noise this entire tournament. So, we knew they were going to be right there on our tails. Lincolnview is solid. Then you have the speed of Allen East. It’s a good track conference, to be honest with you.”
On the track Saturday, Columbus Grove junior distance runner Luke Ellerbrock scored huge points for his team.
In the 1,600, Ellerbrock finished second with a time of 4:31.03. Bluffton’s Eden Antrim pulled away from Ellerbrock down the stretch for the win in 4:26.52. Spencerville’s Lanny Oakman was third (4:33.17).
At last year’s Division III state meet, Antrim placed fifth in the 1,600 in 4:21.32.
“I was hoping that somebody was going to take the lead, because they’re all a little more distance (runners) than me,” Antrim said about Saturday’s 1,600. “I like to wait until late in the race, then go ahead and kick.”
Ellerbrock said Saturday’s 1,600 was more of a strategic race.
“That was a really odd race, I guess. He (Antrim) came in with a really good seed time,” Ellerbrock said. “So, I knew he was faster than me. I was hoping he would go out hard. So, I just kind of sat behind him. We went out really slow. Our first lap was a 1:09. … My first lap of the 2-mile (3,200) was a 1:09. It was super slow the first couple laps. Then with about 600 (meters) to go, we just took off.”
Ellerbrock came back later in the day and won the 3,200 in 9:44.44. Bluffton’s Erik Nygaard finished a close second (9:47.85). Columbus Grove’s Trent Koch was third (10:01.74).
At last year’s Division III state meet, Nygaard placed 10th in the 3,200 (9:48.23).
The Columbus Grove girls team came out of the first day, Thursday, with 64 points. However, Bluffton was just six points behind them.
Saturday, the Bulldogs got the job done on the track.
“Every single one (stepped up),” Columbus Grove girls head coach Abbie Norton said. “This was the first time that I’ve ever got kind of nerdy and projected everybody’s points of every event. Every girl showed up today and did exactly what we wanted them to do. So, I’m really proud of them.”
Thursday, Columbus Grove freshman Nicole Nesby won the discus (106-10) and shot put (30-7).
Columbus Grove’s Lauryn Auchmuty won the long jump (16-2.75) and placed second in the pole vault (10-0).
Bluffton relay shatters mark
Thursday, the Bluffton boys 3,200 relay broke the NWC meet record with a time of 8:01.83. The Bluffton relay was comprised of Erik Nygaard, Eden Antrim, Sam Derstine and Landon Armstrong.
In Saturday’s 800, Armstrong won in 1:57.48, while Derstine was right on his heels for second place (1:58.51).
“That was the goal here – trying to push each other to a fast time,” Armstrong said after Saturday’s 800. “I think it was pretty successful. I think it was just off the meet record, but that’s alright. We’ll come back next week and race each other again.”
Last year, Armstrong set the NWC meet record in the 800 (1:56.16). At last year’s Division III state meet, Armstrong placed fourth in the 800 (1:55.22).
Armstrong said Thursday’s record-setting performance in the 3,200 relay is hopefully a good sign of things to come.
“I think the goal coming in was to get the (NWC meet) record. We came out here and got an 8:01, which was pretty shocking, because we got it by four seconds – which was exciting to see. A sub-8 (minute, 3,200 relay) is probably our next goal,” Armstrong said.
Added Derstine, “In the four-by-eight (3,200 relay), we’re doing really well. We were hoping to get it (meet record). … Getting the record was fantastic.”
At last year’s Division III state meet, the same four Bluffton runners placed third in the 3,200 relay (8:01.25) as juniors.
Moody wins 3 events
Lincolnview freshman Brynleigh Moody knew she had her work cut out for her Saturday.
The freshman distance standout pulled off one of the toughest trifectas Saturday, winning the 1,600, 800 and 3,200.
In the 1,600, Moody pulled away in the final 400 meters to record a winning time of 5:26.54.
A little later, Moody came back and won the 800 (2:23.23). Then, she wrapped up her busy day by winning the 3,200 (12:38.71).
“My strategy the whole day was to sit and kick,” Moody said. “The goal today was to win all the events.”
The one event Moody was not too sure about was the 800. However, she was able to muster up a kick at the right time. Moody passed Spencerville’s Grace Goecke in the second lap and went on to notch the victory. Goecke finished second (2:26.93).
“That girl (Goecke) helped me a lot,” Moody said. “The first lap, I was scared that I wouldn’t get her. But I just followed my coach’s word, just kept pushing along and I caught her.”
Thursday, the Lincolnview 3,200 relay, which Moody competed on, placed second with a time of 10:28.99.
This past fall, Moody was a Division III state qualifier in cross country.
Lindeman shines
Delphos Jefferson junior Lyv Lindeman won the 100-meter hurdles (15.29), the 300 hurdles (46.09), breaking her own school record, and placed second in the 100 dash (12.98) Saturday.
“I’ve definitely spent a lot of time this week, just practicing that backstretch, getting it all perfected,” Lindeman said about her 300 hurdles. “So, I’m pretty happy with today’s race and excited for districts next week.”
Last year, Lindeman was a Division III state qualifier in both hurdle events.
